Faith | He’s making the best of whatever time God allows him to live
I first faced death (after all my tests) when my oncologist called me up about two weeks before Christmas 2004.
He told me that after all my radiation treatments, my cancer had returned and his best estimate was that I had two years to live.
I’m sure that some Christians, like me, when they think they may only have a couple of years to live, still fear death to some extent. They may also think about those they’re leaving behind, and about what things will be like in the hereafter.
Even being a Christian, the idea of dying still bothered me, especially leaving behind my two teenage daughters and wife. Also troubling was how much pain and suffering may lead up to it. I already knew that I would go to heaven, but I also wanted to know more about what that would be like.
I feverishly prayed for an extra 15 years, like King Hezekiah in the Bible, in order to see my daughters grow up and also be there for my wife. I prayed and studied the Bible to learn more about what heaven would be like, and about dying with grace.
After praying intensely and studying the Bible more, I had much greater peace, strength to not fear death, and faith that whatever God allowed would be good. I committed to making the best of whatever time God allowed me to live, honoring him.
I started by writing up my preferences for my funeral service. Unfortunately, I had been advised that another round of very harsh radiation treatments would probably kill me from complications—15 to 20 years, the doctors said— if I miraculously made it that long.
Fast forward to 2023.
God has graciously given me the 15 years I prayed for, plus some. To my doctors’ surprise, my cancer took on a very slow growth rate.
Regrettably, the cancer and side effects now seem to be causing some problems and will eventually lead to my demise. But I still enjoy life, knowing that I am on borrowed time. I just appreciate every day that God gives me.
I’m still very comforted from what I learned from my Bible studies when facing death earlier.
I know that heaven is a real place, for eternity, and made for all those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. I have learned that we will get to know God much better there and recognize our loved ones. Also, we will have happiness beyond our wildest dreams, forever.
When we physically die, our soul (the essence of who we are) will never die, but just be transported from here into God’s presence. One day we will gain a resurrected body that will never grow old or be sick.
God has built a special place in heaven just for me. Any suffering I may go through here is nothing compared to all the awesome things God has in store for me in heaven.
God guarantees us abundant life in his heavenly kingdom forever, if we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
I know he was God in the flesh, the only one who lived a perfect sinless life. He was unjustly convicted, brutally crucified on a Roman cross, and took upon himself the punishment we deserved. Three days later, he rose from the dead just as he said.
By trusting in him, we can be forgiven of all our sins and given his perfect righteousness to live for eternity in his glorious kingdom. The following verses explain this even more: Matthew 27:23-31, Luke 16:19-31, John 3:16, 10:10, 11:25-26, 14:1-3, 17:3, Romans 8:18, 8:28, 2 Corinthians 5:8, 5:21, 1 John 5:13, Philippians 3:20-21, Revelation 21:3-4, Psalm 16:11, 23:4.
Even though I’m facing death again, I’m thankful for the extra years to live my best life for Jesus.
Lee Walter is Sunday School superintendent at Columbia Bible Church in Kennewick and vice chairman of the Tri-Cities Child Evangelism Fellowship. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com.
